ISLAMABAD: A judge in Karachi has summoned the Interior Minister, Rehman Malik to appear before an anti-corruption court. It follows a court ruling this week which ruled out an immunity granted to the minister and thousands of other Pakistani officials. Malik is one of around 250 officials whose corruption and criminal cases have been re-opened.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar was barred from going to China after he was stopped at the airport. The latest developments after the supreme court ruled on Wednesday that an amnesty protecting senior members of government was unconstitutional. Only recently has it been revealed that more than 8,000 politicians and officials benefited from the legislation.

Those under investigation are barred from leaving Pakistan but the others have so far not been named. The ruling has thrown Pakistan's political administration into turmoil.

Calls are growing for the president and the entire government to step down - something presidential aides have said will not happen.